North Somerset

North Somerset's population grew in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and health.

The population passed 200,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of North Somerset increased by 7.4%, from just under 189,000 to 203,000.

The addition of about 14,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, North Somerset was home to, on average, 3.9 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older North Somerset

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of North Somerset increased by two years, from 42 to 44 years.

This remote area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 7,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 4,000.

About 13% of people in North Somerset are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and North Somerset by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

North Somerset saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (8.8%) households in North Somerset had a single parent, compared with 7.3% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising a married couple decreased from 40% to 36%.

Across the region, only South Gloucestershire (from 7.5% to 9.4%) and Wiltshire (from 7.3% to 9.0%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of single-parent households.

During this period, North Somerset went from having the 22nd-highest to the twelfth-highest percentage of single-parent households out of 309 English local authority areas.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in North Somerset

The number of people in North Somerset that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 31,000 in 2001 to just under 61,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 30% of the local population.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the South West (from 17% to 30%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in North Somerset that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 140,000 in 2001 to about 120,000 in 2011 (from 75% to 61%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 14,000 to about 15,000. Both of these figures represented about 7.5% of the total population at the time of the 2001 and 2011 censuses.

About 940 people (0.4%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from just under 660 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in North Somerset increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and North Somerset by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in North Somerset

The percentage of North Somerset residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.5%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.8% in 2001. The percentage of North Somerset residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 7.5%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 90% in 2001 to 89% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in North Somerset, but at a slower rate than in Bristol (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with North Somerset).

In North Somerset, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.2% in 2001 to 16% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Bristol increased from 13% to 24%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11% to 17%.

The rate of social housing in North Somerset remained close to 9.2%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 79% to 73%.

Private renting in North Somerset increased by 7 percentage points

Percentage of households in North Somerset, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of North Somerset residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.6% to 5.3% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of North Somerset residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in North Somerset decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in North Somerset, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in North Somerset

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here, but at a slower rate than in nearby Bristol.

In North Somerset, the proportion of single people increased from 23% in 2001 to 27% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Bristol increased from 40% to 47%.

Across the South West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in North Somerset fell from 56% to 53%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 13%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in North Somerset working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 11% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.1% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in North Somerset decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in North Somerset, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of North Somerset residents that were unemployed increased from 2.1% to 3.0% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 54%, while the percentage of North Somerset residents that were self-employed increased from 9.7% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were unemployed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of North Somerset residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.9% to 2.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.0% in 2001 to 2.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in North Somerset remained close to 2.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and North Somerset by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in North Somerset with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 8.4% to 8.3% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 28% in 2001. While the percentage of households in North Somerset without children increased from 64% to 65%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.4% in 2001 to 8.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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